Bucs Pitch Their Way to Just-In-Time Win at St. Louis, 3-1

The opening inning went quietly between Jack Flaherty and Dario Agrazal. In the second, Corey D drew a walk; the Cards got a knock and two-out walk, followed by another free pass (the 7 & 8 hitters, sheesh). Dario got the pitcher to bounce out, so a bullet dodged. There was no noise in the third. In the fourth, Bryan Reynolds walked and was forced by Starling. He was caught stealing, and a pop up made it an easy frame for Flaherty. The Cards followed the script closely with a single, DP and pop out. Corey D doubled with one gone in the fifth and K-Man singled him home, breaking a 19-inning scoreless stretch for the Bucs. The party ended quickly on a strike 'em out, throw 'em out DP (a good tag and bad slide cost K-Man). With an out, the Redbirds got a Texas League double that dropped between three Bucs (it was Dickerson's ball, but his first step was back instead of in; the Busch outfield has him flummoxed) and then swiped third. Flaherty doubled him home on a chopper that bounded past third and appeared foul, but that's not reviewable. The pitcher stole third for a second, until a review rung him up after he came off the bag, capping the damage. It's a 1-1 game after five. The sixth was 1-2-3 both ways.

Dealin' Dario - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

 
Starling opened the seventh with a rap and tagged to second on J-Bell's fly to the track. Corey D got ahead 2-0 and then was intentionally walked. Good decision; Flaherty fanned K-Man with a 3-2 sinking fastball. Dexter Fowler doubled and went to third to open for St. Louis; Corey and Starling had a stare down as to who should play the carom, with Starling charged with an error on a play that should have been Dickerson's. That was followed by a walk and Ric Rod was waved in. He got a forceout that froze the runner, nicely played by Newman as Bell's throw was less than optimal, costing a potential DP. Then RR coaxed a pop up and grounder; Houdini has nothin' on Rodini. Giovanny Gallegos tossed a clean eighth, as did Frankie Liriano. Carlos Martinez got the ninth. He bopped Starling with an out and J-Bell singled him to third, going opposite the shift. Redbeard bounced one that a diving Kolten Wong knocked down, but he was left with no play and Starling scored. Colin looked at strike three the pitch before, but the ump missed the call and the new life gave the Bucs the break they needed. K-Man rolled a DP ball to short, but the relay to first skipped and was dropped, adding an insurance run for Felipe Vazquez. He claimed a pair of whiffs and a grounder; raise the Roger.

In the middle of everything again - 2019 Topps Big League

Dario has been a lifesaver for the Bucs; he's 3-0 with wins against the Astros, Brewers and Cards, not exactly the league's bottom feeders. And Ric Rod is living in a world of his own the past few weeks. But it's karmic to see the Black Devil Magic of the Cards turn against them for once; usually it's the Bucs that get the late-inning hoodoo. Now to take the series tomorrow afternoon...

Notes:

• Both sides were held to five hits each, but Corey reached base all four times he was up, with a double and three walks.
• Odd play in the fourth; the ump told Marte to take first on a HBP; Starling declined, telling the man in blue the ball hit the bat. Can't wait until the social media and talk shows get to dissect that act of sportsmanship...
• J-Bell was named the Pirates’ 2019 Heart and Hustle Award winner. 
• Jameson Taillon has begun his throwing program (90' off flat ground) and after three sessions, so far, so good. He's been throwing every other day and should begin daily workouts this weekend.
• Chad Kuhl, recovering from TJ surgery, tossed his first rehab bullpen session.